The Wrap Up | Round 4 V Gold Coast

Written by Ari Stamatakos

Each week, Blue Abroad’s “The Wrap Up” takes a different perspective on Carlton’s post- match review. “The Wrap Up” provides insights and stats supporting the key trends, moments and patterns of the game that held the most influence over the final result. This is your Round 2 Wrap Up following a tight victory over Gold Coast 

MATCH SUMMARY 

Both sides 1-2, both sides desperate for a win, both sides with key personal out. It dawn upon both sides about the similar scenarios they found each other in, Carlton ambition of finals made this an absolute must win, a non-negotiable, whereas Gold Coast possibly aren’t quite ready, they are ready to take the next level.

The Suns got of too a hot start as good ball use inside 50 by Hugh Greenwood (27 disposals, 10 tackles, 10 clearances) found Ben King (1 goal, 4 marks) who went back and slotted the first of the night inside the first minuet of the game. The Blues dominated the following period of time but struggled to find the goals, optimised by Patrick Cripps ( 21 disposals, 9 tackles, 4 clearances, 5 inside 50’s) who misses badly from a shot 20 metres out. The old guard got the ball rolling for the Blues as a Marc Murphy (2 goals, 5 score involvements, 5 inside 50’s)  hit up Eddie Betts (1 goal, 8 score involvements, 17 pressure acts) who returned the favour to allow ‘Murph’ to run in and checkside the Blues first. Cripps atoned for his earlier mistake to kick a very nice goal which gave the Blues a 8 point lead heading into the first change.

The old firm kept the Blues momentum going into the 2nd term as we got another instalment of the Eddie Betts show. The Suns regained momentum through an Alex Sexton (2 goals, 4 inside 50’s, 6 score involvements) goal, which was then added two by two more Suns goal to give them back the lead after the Blues seemed to be kicking away early in the second. However, the Blues leaders stood up again as Ed Curnow (32 disposals, 75% disposal efficiency, 8 clearances) got his first of the night, then goals Murph and Levi Casboult ( 1 goal, 3 marks) got the Blues back ahead by 14 going into the main break. 

The Suns got on top in the 3rd term, and they were rewarded 4 minutes into the quarter with a goal from Greenwood, which was added to quickly by Lachie Weller (25 disposals, 9 marks, 446 metres gained). The Suns were quickly getting a foot hold of the match and the Blues needed a response and they got it through Matthew Cottrell (19 disposals, 74% efficiency, 15 pressure acts). The Blues stemmed the flow, got back into the game and added another to the scoresheet through Harry McKay (2 goals, 4 marks,) who got his first of the game. But the Suns kept pushing and pushing as they responded with two goals of their own to end the term and make it a 1 point game with 1 quarter to go. 

A scrappy and inaccurate last term saw only 1 goal kicked and it came from a brilliant chase down tackle from Jack Silvagni, who during the tackle had to come off injured which saw the kick burdened on McKay despite him not being anywhere near the ball at the time of tackle, the Blues did very well to get it to the left footer who opened up the angle, snap his second of the game which ended up being the winner as the Blues ran over the top by 11 points. 

BREAKING IT DOWN: KEY MATCH INSIGHTS 

The Old Firm Stood Up. The Blues faithful have been calling for their leaders to step up in big moments, and on Saturday night they repaid them in spades. Curnow, Murphy, Betts, Cripps, Jones all stood up when the pressure was hot and the Suns were coming, they were able to stem the flow and pretty much carried the Blues to their 2nd win of the season. Curnow has now established himself as the best wet weather player at the club, his 32 disposals, 75% disposal efficiency, 8 clearances and 5 tackles drove the Carlton midfield who the Suns were getting on top of at stages of the game. Murphy and Betts turned the clock back with the best games either have played in some time, Betts pressure was immense and Murphy’s ball use going inside 50 was exceptional, combining for 3 goals, all with a touch of class, got the Blues out of some sticky situations. Liam Jones was exceptional down back, shutting down nearly every Suns offensive move with marks for days, 11 of them to be specific.

These leaders and experience heads proved to carry the Blues over the line in a tight and scrappy affair.

FINAL SCORES

Gold Coast:          1.2 (8), 4.4 (28), 8.8 (56), 8.11 (59) 

Carlton:                  2.4 (16), 6.6 (42), 8.9 (57), 9.16 (70) 

Carlton Goals:      McKay (2), Murphy (2), Betts, Cripps, Casboult, Curnow, Cottrell 

Carlton Best:        Curnow, Jones, Docherty, Walsh, Murphy, Petrevski-Seton, Cripps